Any ideas for the people who stay home where to take their family on Chol Ha’moed? I am talking about the New York area or places that are not so far from the NY area. I dont discriminate on out of town ideas (at least on this thread) for those who live out of town, but please specify if the idea is in Oregon or Texas so the New Yorkers know its not in NY. Also please specify where it is, how far it is from Brooklyn, if it costs money, and if its appropriate for teens and little kids. Also I request only ‘kosher’ places like dont say “OMG you guys have to check out that new water park in New Jersey”. Last but not least please dont say we should go to the Bronx Zoo on Wednesday because its free. EVERY Jew knows it.

not as exciting as Niagra (AT ALL!), but every Chol HaMoed (Sukkos, but you can do it on Pesach too) we drive to Lakewood to visit family. It can be a nice, inexpensive (IF gas is cheap!) trip. Leave in the morning, spend the day together exploring/park/picnic. Get to know your cousins and other mishpacha. After supper (you arrange beforehand how to split the food preparing beforehand). And then drive home.

Niagra Falls is a really awesome chol ha’moed trip!!! as a kid i’ve been to every amusement park on chol ha’moed trips!!! hershey park along with amish town, six flags-in nj and in other states as well, bush garden’s-in virginia…can’t think of any others at the moment!!! my family Hates museums so we never ever ever go or went to them(except the wax museum-did that one chol ha’moed pesach when it just opened actually!!!)

How about Baltimore,we did that last Pesach,it was very nice. They have a massive aquarium, very interesting science museum, a beautiful Barnes and Nobles, water and boats..all in one tourist area. We also did Ride the Ducks there, which they have in manhatan as well…u go on a tour by bus, then the bus goes intot the water as a boat. It is a very nice trip. Not too far either.

5) i think they have the duck tours in new york now – it’s a kind of bus that drives straight into the water and becomes a boat. did it in boston. fun for kids.

6) aquarium/boardwalk at coney island

7) riis park

8) airport – watch the planes land and take off

9) family craft projects or puzzle time in home. you can also make your own board games.

10) observation deck at empire state building or at rockefeller center

11) lookout spots off the palisades parkway – you can hike over there as well.

and shindy – if you don’t have any of your own frum relatives, create some! adopt a bubby at a nursing home. a friend of mine did, and the relationship between her family and their “bubby” is most rewarding.

A new, cute, fun indoor waterpark opened in a Hilton around an hour away from Lakewood. I’ve been there a monthe agao and we had a great time. Now I want to take my family there and I forgot what it’s called. Anyboby knows?

chol hamoed is such a nice way to spend time with the fam, although that can get difficult when there are a huge age differences amongst the children. a great idea is to visit old ppl in nursing homes before going about on your own fun! it teaches the children that they can also share thier simchas yom tov with others..

This year we may go to a State Park in North West NJ. Scenic overlook areas and hiking trails. a Pesach picnic. It is a long ride, so the family gets to be together the whole day. the other day we will go visit an elderly aunt – also a long ride with the family.

areivimzehlazeh- Longwood Gardens is a beautiful Botanical Garden near the city of Wilmington Delaware. It is around the Brandy wine Creek not far from Kennett Square Penna. (Edible Mushroom Capital of the USA). Phila. nearby has the oldest Mint in the USA. At the end of the tour you can buy a proof set for the year. Longwood Gardens and the Philly Mint are about 4 hours away from the Brooklyn Area. So it is possible to go there for a Chol Ha`Moed excursion and come back home the same day.

Anyone here in Israel, if you came with NbN, they are having a one day tiyul to the Dead Sea area on Monday Chol Hamoed. The price is very reasonable, and transportation is available from Yerushalayim and Beit Shemesh. Check their website for more details. Shabbat Shalom!

Phyllis, Its funny that u mentioned Baltimore. We went there last Chol Hamoed, and thought it was the most fantastic trip, not to mention that if u are looing to make a 2 day trip it is a 45 min drive from Washington D.C. ( we didnt do D.C., but s/o we met in Baltimore mentioned it)

I found it fun for all ages, and “Kosher” enough for big boys.

We were told to leave a lot of time for the aquarium, and sure enough it is HUGE and really beautiful. We did book tickets online in advance which was great, we avoided lines. We satayed in a hotel no too far away so we can be close to Minyanim.

flatbush, there are two sides to the falls the American side, and the Canadian side (supposed to be much nicer, wasn’t on that side though). If I remember correctly, you only need one to go on the Canadian side. Try googling it and see if there’s a tourist number to confirm it.

yeah i was there a few times too. there’s nothing really to do on the US side – you gotta cross over. you might be able to get over with some other form of ID. maybe a birth certificate or a license or something.

moish01- You better plan a trip to the Falls soon, because as of June this year things are changing. Right now one can travel from NY and cross the border into Canada with a Birth Certificate and a Drivers License, and with a Valid Government issued Photo ID them self. AS of June this year a valid Passport will also be required to show ( in addition to the forms of ID that I wrote above) to a Canadian Border Patrolman when Crossing the border from Buffalo NY. to Niagara Falls Canada. I am assuming you need the same form of ID when returning from Canada to Buffalo NY.

children under 16 need only a birth certificate, until new rules start in June. you can look at the websites for teh border crossings for more info. this only applies to land or sea crossings. flying requires a passport for everyone, even babies.

keep in mind that Sunday is Easter and Monday is Easter Monday.

to those in the NYC area – you’re so lucky!!!! My kids drool over the super-exciting ads for Chol Hamoed extravaganzas. (but are they as wonderful as they look?)